Reversible incremental recording apparatus

ABSTRACT

A reversible incremental recording apparatus for moving tape incrementally past a recording head including a rotating capstan, a continuously rotated flywheel supported about the capstan, a drive collar rotatably supported about the capstan, a coil spring coaxially received about a portion of the rotating flywheel and the drive collar normally tending to wind about both elements to rotate the drive collar with the flywheel, the spring having a radial extending tang at one end thereof, a tubular ratchet member received about the spring and receiving the tang, the ratchet member serving to prevent the rotation of the spring and thereby the drive collar when held in a nonrotating position and permitting such rotation when not held, a solenoid device selectively holding or permitting the ratchet member to rotate, a clutch having a driven portion affixed to the capstan shaft, a forward drive portion affixed to the drive collar, and a rearward rotating drive portion rotated by gear means coupling the rearward drive portion to the drive collar, and a coil assembly for selectively coupling the clutch driven portion to one of the forward and reverse drive portions.

United States Patent Crafts 1 May 2, 1972 REVERSIBLE INCREMENTAL Primary E.raminerLeonard D. Christian RECORDING APPARATUS Altorney-Head & Johnson [72] Inventor: Robert L. Crafts, Tulsa, Okla. ABSTRACT [73] Assignee: The Telex Corporation, Tulsa, Okla. A reversible incremental recording apparatus for moving tape incrementally past a recording head including a rotating capl l Flledi 1970 stan, a continuously rotated flywheel supported about the cap- [21 App]. No: 97,712 Stan, a drive collar rotatably supported about the capstan, a coil spring coaxially received about a portion of the rotating flywheel and the drive collar normally tending to wind about [52] US. Cl 242/201, 22422421022), both elements to rotate the d i ll wi h the flywheel, the B1 lb 15/42 GO3b 1/04 spring having a radial extending tang at one end thereof, a tu- [51] i "NZ/201403 206410, bular ratchet member received about the spring and receiving [58] held of 7 D l l 179/100 2 the tang, the ratchet member serving to prevent the rotation of the spring and thereby the drive collar when held in a nonrotating position and permitting such rotation when not held, [56] References Cited a solenoid device selectively holding or permitting the ratchet member to rotate, a clutch having a driven portion affixed to UNITED TA PATENTS the capstan shaft, a forward drive portion affixed to the drive 3 124 318 3/1964 Berger et a1 242/206 collar, and a rearward rotating drive portion rotated by gear 33 l 7 l 52 5/1967 Fukatsu 242/20] means coupling the rearward drive portion to the drive collar, 3 554 465 1/1971 Marukawa.. .242/201 and a coil assembly for selectively coupling the clutch driven 3 595 499 7/1971 Crafts ..242/206 Portion one of the forward and reverse drive Portions- 8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures i 'i; 1 i r [32 V or U 40 i g 36 34 3a 55 I 45 66 54 42 l it] 55 T l l g i U 6 3 46 B 5 mil 4 Iiiy w 1 Mme 60 I 4 y 76 y 0 i 84 68 1 40-0 .5 i I "-1- Patented May 2, 1972 3,659,806

5 Sheets-Sheet l 86 \72 I/VVENTOR.

ROBERT L. CRAFTS A TTOR/VE Y3 Patented May 2, 1972 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. ROBERT L. CRAFTS M MM A r TORNE Y5 Patented May 2, 1972 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IIIIJQTLTH L FIG. .9

//VVEA{TOR. ROBERT L CRAFTS FIG.

ATTORNEYS REVERSIBLE INCREMENTAL RECORDING APPARATUS In copending application Ser. No. 878,820, filed Nov. 20, 1969, now US. Pat. No. 3,595,499 and entitled APPARATUS FOR MOVING TAPE INCREMENTALLY PAST A RECORDING HEAD, a device is shown for incrementally stepping recording tape. Typically, a tape system includes the arrangement wherein tape is moved by a rotating capstan against which the tape is pressed, such as by means of a pinch roller. As long as the capstan is rotated the tape is moved past the recording head. It sometimes becomes necessary to store data on a tape in which the data is not presented at a continuous rate, such as when the data is in the form of time spaced multi-bit character signals. A continuously moving tape results in much of the tape not being used for data storage since much tape travel occurs between the receipt of individual signal characters. When such tape is played back there is also a corresponding time loss and the length of tape necessary to record and play back a given amount of data will in such cases be excessive.

To eliminate excessive tape usage and playback time, it is desirable that the tape he stepped incrementally rather than moved continuously in recording data signals received in time spaced multi-bit form, such as those generated by a teletypewriter or any similar device. Such signals are typically generated in serial or parallel groups of bits to form individual characters. Such data may be recorded in incremental form, one increment of tape moving for each character recorded with the tape remaining stationary during. the intervals between data characters. The above-mentioned copending application provides an incremental tape recording apparatus for incrementally moving a tape in one direction. The present invention is an improvement and an addition to the apparatus set forth in the copending application in that an apparatus is provided to incrementally step tape in both the forward and rearward direction.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a reversible incremental tape recording apparatus.

More particularly, an object of this invention is to provide a reversible incremental recording apparatus for moving tape incrementally past a record playback head in either the forward or rearward direction.

Still more particularly, an object of this invention is to provide a reversible incremental recording apparatus for moving tape incrementally past a record playback head in either the forward or rearward direction including means wherein the tape movement is accomplished by a flywheel continuously rotating in one direction, the rotation of such flywheel being utilized to step the tape selectively either forwardly or rearwardly.

Another particular object of the invention is to provide a reversible incremental recording apparatus for moving tape incrementally in either the forward or rearward direction past a record playback head, including means of rewinding the tape incrementally advanced either in the forward or rearward direction.

These objects as well as other objects of the invention will be better understood by reference to the description and claims taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top view of a portion of a tape recorder apparatus including a tape storage means and a record playback head, the apparatus of this invention providing means for incrementally advancing the tape past the record playback head in either direction.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. I disclosing the details of the apparatus of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing more particularly the means utilized for rewinding the tape as it is incrementally advanced in either direction.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of clutch portion of the invention in the forward drive mode.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the clutch portion of the invention in the rearward drive mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the major portion of the elements of this invention are supported upon a base plate 10. Base plate 10 includes means to receive a tap cassette l2. Tape cassette 12 includes a wind spool 14 and a rewind spool 16 which receives a magnetic tape 18 thereon.

Positioned on base plate 10 is a record playback head 20 which, when the mechanism is in the operating mode, is in contact with magnetic tape 18. An opening 24 in cassette 12 receives a capstan shaft 26 against which tape 18 is pressed by means of a pinch roller 28. A guide 22 insures proper alignment of tape 18 with head 20. The rotation of capstan shaft 26 causes movement of the tape 18 past record playback head 20 when the apparatus is in the record or playback modes. The mechanism shown in FIG. 1 is not unlike that of a typical cassette-type tape recorder in which capstan shaft 26 is continuously rotated in the record mode to move tape 18 past head 20.

FIG. 2 shows details of the invention including means whereby the capstan shaft 26, rather than being rotated continuously as in the typical tape recorder, may be rotated incrementally in either direction. FIG. 2 depicts the tape recorder without the cassette 12in place. A hearing block 30 having an opening therethrough and a bearing 32 at each end is affixed to the base plate 10 and rotatably supports the capstan shaft 26. Rotatably supported on the capstan shaft 26 is a flywheel 34 having an opening therethrough receiving shaft 26 and having bearings 36 which insure low frictional relationship between the flywheel 34 and the shaft 26. Flywheel 34 includes a groove 38 in the exterior periphery which receives a belt 40 driven by motor 42. When motor 42 is energized flywheel 34 rotates continuously in one direction about the capstan shaft 26.

Rotatably supported to the capstan shaft 26 is a drive collar 44, rotated on bearings 46. Flywheel 34 includes an integral reduced diameter shoulder portion 48 at one end and in like manner the guide collar 44 includes a reduced diameter shoulder portion 50 at the end adjacent the flywheel. The shoulder portions 48 and 50 are of approximately the same external diameter and both are coaxial about capstan shaft 26. In the preferred embodiment the diameter of shoulder portion 50 is 0.001 to 0.003 inch larger than the diameter of shoulder portion 48.

Positioned on shoulder portions 48 and 50 is a coiled spring 52. The spring 52 has, at the end thereof adjacent the flywheel 34, a radially extending tang portion 54. The spring 52 is coiled in the direction such that the rotation of flywheel 34 tends to wrap the spring more tightly about the shoulder portion 48 of the flywheel and shoulder portion 50 of the drive collar. Spring 52 has a normal internal diameter slightly less than the external diameter of the shoulder portions 48 and 50 so that frictional relationship between these components normally exists.

Received about spring 52 is a tubular ratchet member 56, the interior diameter of which is slightly larger than the exterior diameter of spring 52. A notch 58 in the ratchet member 56 receives the tang 54 of spring 52.

The exterior of ratchet 56 has at least one integral radial tooth portion extending from the exterior circumferential surface. In the illustrated arrangement there are two such teeth,

60A and 60B, spaced 180 relative to each other on the ratchet member circumferential surface (see FIG. 3). Supported adjacent the ratchet member 56 is a movable ratchet release bar. In the illustrated arrangement the ratchet release bar is in the form of a plunger 62 of a solenoid 64. A spring 66 normally retains the ratchet release bar or plunger 62 in position to engage teeth 60A and 608 as the ratchet member 56 rotates, plunger 62 being withdrawn and out of contact when solenoid 64 is energized.

Supported to base plate (supporting means not being shown) is a gear housing 68 which rotatably receives a portion of the drive collar 44 and the coaxial capstan shaft 26. Within the gear housing 68 is provided a clutch means generally indicated by the numeral 70 and a gear train means generally indicated by the numeral 72. Clutch 70 includes a driven pressure plate 74 affixed to and rotated with the capstan shaft 26, a forward drive portion 76 affixed to as an integral part of the drive collar 44, and a rearward drive portion 78 rotated by gear train means 72.

The gear train means 72 includes a collar gear 80 affixed to and rotated by the drive collar 44. The collar gear 80 meshes with a first drive gear 82. Rotatably received in the housing 68 and spaced from and paralleling the capstan shaft 26 is a gear shaft 84 which has affixed thereto the first drive gear 82. Also affixed to gear shaft 84 is a second drive gear 86. Supported on a cantilevered shaft 88 extending from housing 68 is a reversing idler gear 90 which meshes with and is rotated by the second drive gear 86.

Rotatably supported about the capstan shaft 26 is a gear driven collar 92. At one end of collar 92 is a collar drive gear 96 which meshes with and is driven by reversing idler gear 90. At the other end of the gear driven collar 92 is the rearward drive portion 78 of clutch 70.

Clutch 70 is magnetically actuated. The forward drive portion 76 and rearward drive portion 78 are flat plate-like elements which rotate in opposite directions and in planes normal to the axis of capstan shaft 26, and either one of which may be engaged by the driven pressure plate 74 of the clutch. The driven pressure plate 74 is a plate-like element of paramagnetic material (best shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 4) having an outer periphery which is deflectible. Affixed to driven pressure plate 74 near the periphery are friction elements 74A. When subjected to a magnetic field, the outer periphery of the driven pressure plate 74 is deflected.

Referring now to FIG. 2, supported about the gear driven collar 92 is a coil 98, the coil being supported such as by a bracket 100 extending from gear housing 68. The coil is not in physical contact with the gear driven collar 92. When coil 98 is energized the driven pressure plate 74 is deflected, the direction of deflection being dependent upon the magnetic field established by coil 98. When coil 98 is energized such that the periphery of pressure plate 74 is attracted toward the coil the pressure plate 74 engages rearward drive plate 78 so that the rotation of capstan 26 is locked to the rotation of gear driven collar 92 through gears 96, 90, 86, 82 and 80. On the other hand, when the coil 98 is deenergized pressure plate 74 deflects towards forward drive plate 76, locking the rotation of capstan shaft 26 to the rotation of drive collar 44.

Referring to FIG. 6, a bottom view of the incremental tape mechanism of this invention, means is shown whereby the tape is wound as it is moved by incremental rotation of the capstan shaft 26. When the mechanism is in the forward advance mode an idler wheel 102 supported on arms 104 and 105 engages drive collar 44 and at the same time contacts the periphery of a wind spool drive wheel 106. A tape wind shaft 108 supports tape spool 14 (see FIG. 1) and the wind spool drive wheel 106. Thus, when drive collar 44 is rotated and idler wheel 102 is in contact with the drive collar 44, rotary motion is transferred to wind spool drive wheel 106 and shaft 108 to thereby rotate the wind spool 14. Arm 104 moves idler wheel 102 into engagement with drive collar 44 and wind spool drive wheel 106 when the apparatus is in the forward advance mode. When the apparatus is in the rearward mode plunger 110 of a solenoid 112 is withdrawn, pivoting arm 105 and removing idler wheel 102 from contact with drive collar 44 and wind drive wheel 106.

Since the diameter of the tape wound on wind spool 14 varies with the quantity of tape would on the spool, the amount of rotation of wind spool 14 is not constant relative to the rotation of capstan shaft 26. For this reason a slip clutch arrangement is required so that the rotation of wind spool drive wheel 106 will apply a controlled torque to the rotation of wind spool 14 but in a manner such that there is no positive interconnection between the rotation of capstan drive shaft 26 and wind spool 14. This is best shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 7. Wind spool drive wheel 106 is rotatably supported about the wind spool shaft 108 which rotates in bearing 114. Affixed to the wind spool shaft 108 is a wind spool drive collar 118. Between the surface of drive collar I18 and wind spool drive wheel 106 is a felt washer 120. A spring 122 held in place by cap 124 and retaining ring 126 applies a constant frictional engagement of the wind spool drive wheel 106 to felt washer and drive collar 118. Thus, as the drive wheel 106 is rotated by idler wheel 102 as the capstan shaft 26 is incrementally stepped, such rotation is applied through the slip arrangement of the felt washer 120 to the wind spool drive shaft 118 applying a rotational torque so that tape advanced by the rotation of capstan shaft 26 is wound on the wind spool 14.

A shaft 128 supports tape rewind spool 16 (see FIGS. 1 and 6). A rewind spool drive pulley 130 is supported to the lower end of shaft 128 in a slip clutch arrangement the same as previously described with reference to FIG. 7. Cap 124A and washer 126A of FIG. 6 are counterparts of elements 124 and 126 of FIG. 7.

A motor 132 supported to base plate It) drives a belt 134 which drives rewind spool drive pulley 130. When motor 132 is energized drive pulley 130, shaft 128 and tape rewind spool 16 are rotated to rewind the tape.

METHOD OF OPERATION With the tape cassette 12 positioned as shown wherein the capstan shaft 26 is engaged with pinch roller 28, the tape may be incrementally moved either forwardly or rearwardly according to the application of electrical signals. When ready for operation, motor 42 continuously rotates flywheel 34 in one direction. As long as the ratchet member 56 is held in a homotary position by the extension of ratchet release bar 62, spring 52 is held in a stationary position and capstan shaft 26 is not rotated in either direction. When ratchet release bar 62 is withdrawn, the ratchet member 56 is permitted to rotate, thereby permitting the rotation of spring 52. This causes spring 52 to be wound more tightly about flywheel shoulder portion 48 and drive collar shoulder portion 50, transmitting rotary motion from the flywheel 34 to the drive collar 44. Such rotary motion is supplied directly to the forward drive portion 76 of the clutch 70. In addition, the rotation of drive collar 44 rotates collar gear 80 which in turn rotates first drive gear 82, shaft 84, second drive gear 86, reversing idler gear 90, collar drive gear 96, gear driven collar 92 and thereby rearward drive portion 78 of the clutch.

It will be noted that the number of gears is arranged so that clutch rearward drive portion 78 rotates at the same speed and in the opposite direction as forward drive portion 76. The direction of rotation of capstan shaft 26 depends upon whether the driven portion 74 of the clutch engages the forward drive portion 76 (as shown in FIG. 8) or the rearward drive portion 78 (as shown in FIG. 9), which in turn depends upon the energization of clutch coil 98.

By electrical circuitry which is not a portion of this invention, two signals are provided to incrementally advance the tape forwardly and, in like manner, two signals are applied to incrementally move the tape rearwardly. In each instance incremental movement forwardly and rearwardly of the tape requires a signal to solenoid 64, withdrawing ratchet release bar 62. The first electrical signal results in the incremental movement of the tape; the second electrical signal which is applied to clutch coil 98 determines the direction of such incremental movement.

As previously noted, clutch 70 may be arranged such that the driven portion 74 is resiliently biased to normally engage either forward drive portion 76 or rearward drive portion 78 and, with the coil 98 functioning when energized, to overcome such resilient bias and cause contact with the opposite por tion. Alternatively, the driven pressure plate 74 may be arranged such that in the nonactuated mode it engages neither drive portion 76 or 78, such as shown in FIG. 2, and when coil 98 is energized the direction of the flow of current in coil 98 would determine whether of the forward or rearward drive portion is contacted. Thus, the type of electrical signal applied to control the direction of movement of the tape will depend upon the specific arrangement of clutch 70.

In addition to the signal supplied to control the direction of movement of the tape, electrical signals are also applied to control the rewind of the tape. Referring to FIG. 6, the apparatus is shown in the condition wherein the tape is rewound when moved in the forward direction. in this mode, idler wheel 102 engages drive collar 44 to thereby in turn rotate wind drive wheel 106, thus rotating shaft 108. At this time rearward rewind motor 132 is de-energized so that as tape is wound on spool 14, shaft 128 and spool 16 freely rotate by the free rotation of the armature of motor 132. When the tape is advanced in a rearward direction electrical signal is applied to solenoid 112 and at the same time to motor 132. The signal to solenoid 112 withdraws plunger 110 and thereby moves the arms 104 and 105 towards the solenoid to remove engagement of the idler wheel 102 with drive collar 44. This action removes rotational torque from shaft 108. At the same time motor 132 is energized to rotate rearward wind drive pulley 130 and thereby rearward rewind shaft 128.

While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity it is manifest that many changes may be made in the details of construction and the arrangement of components. It is understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiment set forth herein by way of exemplifying the invention, but the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the attached claims including the full range of equivalency to which each element or step thereof is entitled.

What is claimed:

1. A reversible incremental recording apparatus for moving tape incrementally past a recording head comprising:

a rotatable capstan shaft against which tape is pressed, the rotation of the capstan shaft serving to move the tape either forwardly or rearwardly;

a flywheel continuously rotated in one direction supported about said capstan shaft, said flywheel having at one end thereof a reduced diameter shoulder portion coaxial with said capstan shaft;

a drive collar rotatably supported about said capstan shaft and having a reduced diameter shoulder portion coaxial with said capstan shaft, said flywheel shoulder and drive collar shoulder being of substantially the same diameter and adjacent each other;

a coiled spring coaxially received about said capstan shoulder and said drive collar shoulder, the normal internal diameter of the spring being slightly smaller than the external diameter of said flywheel shoulder and said drive collar shoulder, the direction of rotation of said flywheel tending to tighten said spring about said flywheel shoulder and said drive collar shoulder, said spring having a radially extending tang at the end thereof received on said flywheel shoulder; v

a tubular ratchet member coaxially received about and externally of said spring, the interior diameter of said ratchet member being slightly larger than the external diameter of said spring, said ratchet member having a slot therein receiving said tang of said spring whereby said spring and said ratchet member are rotationally interlocked;

a ratchet release bar movably supported adjacent said ratchet member and movable between a first and a second position and arranged such that in said first position said release bar engages said ratchet member preventing the rotation thereof, and in said second position said release bar is removed from said ratchet member and permits the rotation of said ratchet member;

means of selectably moving said ratchet release bar between first and second positions;

a clutch means having a driven pressure plate affixed to said capstan shaft, a forward driving portion rotatable in a forward direction about said shaft by said drive collar, and a rearward driving portion rotatably supported about said shaft;

gear means coupling rotary motion of said drive collar to rotate said clutch means rearward driving portion in the direction opposite the rotation of said forward driving portion; and

means selectably coupling said clutch driven pressure plate to one of said forward and rearward driving portions.

2. A reversible incremental recording apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said clutch means pressure plate is a flat plate afiixed axially to said capstan shaft, the plate being flexible at the peripheral portions and including magnetic means whereby the peripheral portions flex in response to a magnetic field, wherein said clutch forward driving portion includes a forward disc affixed to said drive collar in a plane normal said capstan shaft and adjacent said pressure plate, and wherein said clutch rearward driving portion includes a rearward disc rotatably supported coaxially with said capstan shaft and adjacent said pressure plate at the side thereof opposite said forward disc, and wherein said means of selectably coupling said clutch driven portion and rearward driving portions includes an electrically energizable coil positioned adjacent said clutch discs and pressure plate portions, the magnetic field induced by said coil service to cause said pressure plate peripheral portions to flex to engage one of said discs according to the direction of the magnetic field.

3. A reversible incremental recording apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said plate normally resiliently engages one of said forward and rearward discs and is moved to engage the other by a magnetic field established by the energization of said coil.

4. A reversible incremental recording apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said ratchet member has a tooth portion extending radially from the exterior surface thereof, and wherein said ratchet release bar, in said first position, extends adjacent the exterior surface of said ratchet member and is engaged by said tooth portion of said ratchet member preventing the rotation of said ratchet member and in said second position said release bar is removed from adjacent said ratchet member and permits the rotation of said ratchet member.

5. A reversible incremental recording apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said ratchet release bar and means of selectably moving said ratchet release bar includes a solenoid having a plunger extending therefrom, said solenoid being supported adjacent said ratchet means, said solenoid plunger being positioned between a first and second position according to the energization of said solenoid, in said first position said plunger engaging said ratchet tooth and in said second position said ratchet tooth passing said plunger as said ratchet rotates.

6. A reversible incremental recording apparatus according to claim 1 including:

a tape winding spindle for receiving tape thereon after said tape has been moved past said recording head by the rotation of said capstan shaft, said tape winding spindle being rotatably supported parallel to said capstan shaft; and

means of rotating said tape winding spindle upon the rotation of said capstan shaft.

7. An incremental recording apparatus for moving a tape incrementally past a recording head according to claim 4 wherein said means of rotating said tape wind spindle upon the rotation of said capstan shaft includes:

crementally past a recording head according to claim 5 including:

a slip clutch means between said drive wheel and said tape winding spindle. 

1. A reversible incremental recording apparatus for moving tape incrementally past a recording head comprising: a rotatable capstan shaft against which tape is pressed, the rotation of the capstan shaft serving to move the tape either forwardly or rearwardly; a flywheel continuously rotated in one direction supported about said capstan shaft, said flywheel having at one end thereof a reduced diameter shoulder portion coaxial with said capstan shaft; a drive collar rotatably supported about said capstan shaft and having a reduced diameter shoulder portion coaxial with said capstan shaft, said flywheel shoulder and drive collar shoulder being of substantially the same diameter and adjacent each other; a coiled spring coaxially received about said capstan shoulder and said drive collar shoulder, the normal internal diameter of the spring being slightly smaller than the external diameter of said flywheel shoulder and said drive collar shoulder, the direction of rotation of said flywheel tending to tighten said spring about said flywheel shoulder and said drive collar shoulder, said spring having a radially extending tang at the end thereof received on said flywheel shoulder; a tubular ratchet member coaxially received about and externally of said spring, the interior diameter of said ratchet member being slightly larger than the external diameter of said spring, said ratchet member having a slot therein receiving said tang of said spring whereby said spring and said ratchet member are rotationally interlocked; a ratchet release bar movably supported adjacent said ratchet member and movable between a first and a second position and arranged such that in said first position said release bar engages said ratchet member preventing the rotation thereof, and in said second position said release bar is removed from said ratchet member and permits the rotation of said ratchet member; means of selectably moving said ratchet release bar between first and second positions; a clutch means having a driven pressure plate affixed to said capstan shaft, a forward driving portion rotatable in a forward direction about said shaft by said drive collar, and a rearward driving portion rotatably supported about said shaft; gear means coupling rotary motion of said drive collar to rotate said clutch means rearward driving portion in the direction opposite the rotation of said forward driving portion; and means selectably coupling said clutch driven pressure plate to one of said forward and rearward driving portions.
 2. A reversible incremental recording apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said clutch means pressure plate is a flat plate affixed axially to said capstan shaft, the plate being flexible at the peripheral portions and including magnetic means whereby the peripheral portions flex in response to a magnetic field, wherein said clutch forward driving portion includes a forward disc affixed to said drive collar in a plane normal said capstan shaft and adjacent said pressure plate, and wherein said clutch rearward driving portion includes a rearward disc rotatably supported coaxially with said capstan shaft and adjacent said pressure plate at the side thereof opposite said forward disc, and wherein said means of selectably coupling said clutch driven portion and rearward driving portions includes an electricalLy energizable coil positioned adjacent said clutch discs and pressure plate portions, the magnetic field induced by said coil service to cause said pressure plate peripheral portions to flex to engage one of said discs according to the direction of the magnetic field.
 3. A reversible incremental recording apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said plate normally resiliently engages one of said forward and rearward discs and is moved to engage the other by a magnetic field established by the energization of said coil.
 4. A reversible incremental recording apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said ratchet member has a tooth portion extending radially from the exterior surface thereof, and wherein said ratchet release bar, in said first position, extends adjacent the exterior surface of said ratchet member and is engaged by said tooth portion of said ratchet member preventing the rotation of said ratchet member and in said second position said release bar is removed from adjacent said ratchet member and permits the rotation of said ratchet member.
 5. A reversible incremental recording apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said ratchet release bar and means of selectably moving said ratchet release bar includes a solenoid having a plunger extending therefrom, said solenoid being supported adjacent said ratchet means, said solenoid plunger being positioned between a first and second position according to the energization of said solenoid, in said first position said plunger engaging said ratchet tooth and in said second position said ratchet tooth passing said plunger as said ratchet rotates.
 6. A reversible incremental recording apparatus according to claim 1 including: a tape winding spindle for receiving tape thereon after said tape has been moved past said recording head by the rotation of said capstan shaft, said tape winding spindle being rotatably supported parallel to said capstan shaft; and means of rotating said tape winding spindle upon the rotation of said capstan shaft.
 7. An incremental recording apparatus for moving a tape incrementally past a recording head according to claim 4 wherein said means of rotating said tape wind spindle upon the rotation of said capstan shaft includes: a drive wheel affixed to said tape wind spindle, said drive wheel being spaced from said drive collar; and an idler wheel engaging said drive collar and said drive wheel to rotate said drive wheel, and thereby said tape winding spindle, when said drive collar is rotated.
 8. An incremental recording apparatus for moving a tape incrementally past a recording head according to claim 5 including: a slip clutch means between said drive wheel and said tape winding spindle. 